The CAIS logo*
is depiction of
Iranian legend fabulous bird SÍn-Murv (Simurgh/Simorgh). The representation of this legendry creature can be found
throughout Iranian world.

The mythical bird,
Simurgh, was depicted as a
winged gigantic creature in the shape of a bird, that can carry
an elephant or a camel; a kind of peacock with the head of
a dog and the claws of a lion and sometimes it is shown
with a human face. Simurgh suckled it's young, due to being part
mammal; it has an
enmity towards snakes and its' natural habitat is a place
with plenty of water.

In one ancient Iranian accounts, the Simurgh, was
said to live for 1700 years before plunging itself into flames, and by later
accounts is immortal and is said to have a nest in the 'Tree of Knowledge'.

According to Iranian legends it is
said that this bird is so old that it has seen the destruction of the world
three times over, in which Simurgh has
learned so much that it is thought to possess the knowledge of all ages.

Sasanian Iran believed
the mythical bird brings imparted fertility
to the land and the union between the earth and the sky -- it roosted in the
tree of life (Gaokerena), and lived in the land of the sacred Haoma plant, whose
seeds could cure all evil.

In later Iranian lore, the Simurgh became a symbol of divinity. SÍn-Murv/Simurgh is also in Persian literature identified as Hom‚ and in Arabic introduced as
Rukh.